Still photographic camera and image generation process

ABSTRACT

In a still photographic camera, the focal plane is determined by a matrix-like transducer arrangement (7) of optoelectronic sensor elements (9). The viewfinder image is directly generated by evaluation of the electric output signals (e 9 ) from the transducerelements (9) that form the transducer arrangement (7).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a still photographic camera whichincludes a lens defining a lens plane and an imaging device whichdefined a focal plane.

A camera of the noted kind is disclosed in DE-PS-34 33 412. The drawbackof this camera is that a ground-glass plate is used as a view finder andthus as a first imaging device in the image plane, and a recordingmedium in the form of a film is brought into the position of theground-glass plate in order to finally take a picture of the scene.

The object of the present invention is to provide a still photographiccamera which enables simultaneous viewing of a scene as it is beingphotographed, wherein no mechanical movements must occur in order to gofrom the viewing mode into the picture taking mode; which, furthermore,can be constructed to be extremely compact which allows options whichcan be added without a disturbing of the compact structure, and whichthus can be completed with regard to realizable operational functionsextremely easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A transducer arrangement of optoelectrical transducer elements is usedso that, in the imaging plane, the practically all functions necessaryfor taking pictures by the still photographic camera can be achieved bya processing of the electrical output signals from the transducer.

The lens is in supported to pivot around two axes extendingperpendicularly to each other so that an optimization of the focusbecomes possible without changing the perspective of the image set bymeans of the position of the transducer arrangement.

The perspective of the image in the position of the image plane is setinitially. It is, thereby, however by all means possible to tie thetransducer arrangement arrested to the casing and to select theperspective of the image by a shifting of the camera.

Furthermore, for setting the focus, the lens and/or the transducerarrangement is/are displaceable in the direction of the focus.

Preferably motor driven positioning means are used in order to set thementioned movements of the transducer and/or the lens. By means of thisthe possibility is provided such as still is to be explained, to set bya judging of the focus by means of a camera computer and regress ontothe positioning members, the focus of the imaging focus automatically inthe sense of an automatic controlling of the focus and to optimize it,resp., via the imaging plane.

In the presently preferred embodiment the transducer arrangement isformed by CCD-transducer elements.

By the provision of a further transducer arrangement of electro-opticaltransducer elements, tied to the casing of the camera, a viewer image isproduced electronically which enables to simultaneously view with thesaving of the image the saved image.

With the same transducer arrangement furthermore, the information neededfor the intercommunication between the camera computer and the operatoris preferably displayed.

Because the camera in accordance with the invention is structured in afurther, extremely preferred embodiment to include a window selectingunit positioned between the transducer arrangement and the furthertransducer arrangement in accordance, the possibility is arrived toselected a window of the scene electronically from the scene to bephotographed and to subject same to a respective specific furtherprocessing. It is thereby possible, to realize an electronic in that theimage window selected at the window selecting unit can be switched witha preset scale of increase or decrease onto the further transducerarrangement of optoelectronic transducer elements.

By this electronic zoom function an exchanging or adjusting of theobjective will become superfluous in many cases.

A further preferred embodiment of the camera in accordance with theinvention leads to the possibility of an automatic adjusting of thefocus and optimization and/or a automatic setting of the illuminationand/or an automatic setting of the color composition of the light of theimage, resp. Obviously, in place of or additionally to the controllingoperation of an adjusting member merely a display can be made and thedesired adjusting be accomplished manually.

Furthermore, in order not only to be able take the information relativeto a single image window selected at the window selecting unit, but toconduct an optimizing over an entire image, at least one of thefocus-judging unit, the illumination-judging unit, and/or thecolor-judging unit acts at the output side onto memory means in whichsequentially, via a switch over unit, signal values with reference toone respective window selected at the window selecting unit are stored.By this it becomes possible to save the corresponding data for several,sequentially or simultaneously selected windows and to set from theentirety of these informations and data, resp. optimal settingparameters for focus and/or illumination and/or color composition ofimage light or to adjust these manually.

In a further preferred embodiment of the camera the actual image datamemory is integrated in the casing of the camera, for instance in formof a mini-disc.

By the provision of a gravity sensor an automatic recognizing of theposition of the camera will be made possible, e.g., parallelity of edgesof an image relative to the vertical direction.

The determined ACTUAL image size can thereby be for instance theaveraged focus over the entire image, the distribution of the focus overthe entire image or the focus at individual sections of the image, etc.The ACTUAL-focus of the image as ACTUAL-image value can preferably bedetermined directly from the output signals of the optoelectrictransducers. The ACTUAL-image value can, however, understood in a moregeneral way, be also the modulation-transmittal function given by aforeseen camera lens or a phase-transmittal function or, combined, thecomplex optical transmittal function and will be then indirectlydetermined based on the knowledge of this modulation-transmittalfunction of the lens by a lens identification at the camera.

By intervening into the optical path of the camera, i.e., for instanceby changing of the focusing and/or by a signal-technical interventiononto the electrical path at the output side of the transducerarrangement at the camera, the image defined by the electrical signalsis changed, such that at least a RATED image value is arrived at, forinstance a given focus or focus distribution or a desired dependency ofthe modulation-transmittal function of a invariable value which isindependent from same, such as for instance the aperture value or imageangle or, generally, for increasing or decreasing of themodulation-transmittal function, possibly differing for different areasof the image.

Generally, the "electronic image" represented by electrical signals ofthe transducer elements can be changed or optimized,resp., by techniquesknown in the field of communication techniques. The correspondingprocessing proceeds obviously digitally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be explained by example based onthe accompanying the drawing figures.

There is shown in:

FIG. 1 shows schematically using on function blocks and signal flows afirst embodiment of the camera in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows, using a functionblock/signal flow-diagram, a furtherpreferred embodiment of the camera in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 proceeding from the camera explained based on FIG. 2, furtherdevelopment variants;

FIG. 4 shows, proceeding from the development variants according to FIG.3 of the camera in accordance with the invention, again based on aschematic function block/signalflow diagram, still further developmentvariants of the camera in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 shows, perspectively and simplified the design of a camera inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 shows, purely qualitatively, courses of electrical signals at theoutput side of the transducer arrangement at a camera in accordance withthe FIG. 1 to 5, for explanation of a ACTUAL-focus determination andRATED-focus setting;

FIG. 7 shows, based on a simplified signalflow/functionblock-diagram aACTUAL-focus determining-and RATED focus setting unit at a camera inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a ACTUAL-focus determining andRATED-focus setting unit of a camera in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 shows as example the course of modulation-transmittal functionsMTF of a lens in function of aperture value, image angle and (brokenlines) local frequency;

FIG. 10 shows based on a simplified signalflow/functionblock-diagram, amodulation-transmission-changing unit at a camera in accordance with theinvention, where with a lens-given modulation-transmitting function canbe changed; and

FIG. 11 shows a positioning unit at a camera in accordance with theinvention for a selective changing of a lens-given modulationtransmitting function, in place of the setting unit foreseen in theembodiment according to FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 a camera in accordance with the invention is illustratedschematically and in form of function blocks. It includes a casing 1with lens 3 which defines in the relation to the casing 1 the lens planeE_(o). Basically, with the pivoting of the image plane, the perspectiveof the image and the focus of the image is influenced. When pivoting thelens plane, merely the focus of the image is influenced. Accordingly,the image plane in the casing in accordance with FIG. 1 is pivotable inthat the lens is supported to pivot relative to two axes y_(o), x_(o)which are fixed in relation to the casing. In order to set the focus,the lens is adjustable in the direction z of the focus.

Die image E_(B), set by Cartesian coordinates y_(B) and X_(B) is definedby a planar, matrix-like arrangement of optoelectronic transducerelements 7, preferably by charge-coupled device-elements, CCD.

The substantially planar transducer arrangement 7 which defines theCartesian coordinate axes X_(B) and Y_(B) can, such as schematicallyillustrated at the suspension 11a, b, be supported to pivot around twofixed axes Y_(G) and X_(G) extending perpendicularly relative to eachother such as illustrated relative to the axis X_(G) by α and relativeto the axis Y_(G) by β.

In a further embodiment, the transducer arrangement 7 supportedcardanically at the casing 1 can additionally be linearly displaceablein the directions of the axes X_(G) and Y_(G). Furthermore, the imageplane E_(B) can be supported to also be displaceable together with thetransducer arrangement in the focus direction z.

Furthermore, such as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, a positioningmember arrangement 13a-f is foreseen with motor driven positioningmembers M, wherewith at least a part of the movements of the lens and/ortransducer arrangement are positioned motor driven. The positioningmembers M foreseen in the positioning member unit 13 are controlled byincoming electrical control signals e_(a) -e_(f).

Every sensor element 9, as an optoelectric transducer element, emits atthe output side a output signal e₉, such that at a matrix of n×m sensorelements, such as again illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 by brokenlines, the transducer arrangement 7 emits a output signal bundle E_(9nm)of all n×m sensor elements.

Furthermore, one or a plurality of gravity sensors 14 may be foreseen atthe camera.

In FIG. 2 further preferred embodiments of the camera in accordance withthe invention are illustrated in form of a signal flow/functionblock-diagram.

In a first further embodiment, the output E_(9nm) of the transducerarrangement 7 is operatively connected to a further transducerarrangement 15 which is formed (not illustrated) by a matrix likearrangement of r×s electro-optical (E/O) transducer elements. In apresently preferred embodiment this transducer arrangement is aLCD-screen; it may be, however, also a planar image screen of integratedtransducer transistors.

Such as illustrated schematically, the transducer arrangement 15 isbound to the casing as image viewing screen, and merely e.g., for anoptimal viewing comfort, be adjustable regarding its position. Due tothe reverse or back, resp. transducing of the electrical output signalsof the transducer arrangement 7, it is possible to view the image at thetransducer arrangement 15 similar to that of a view finder of a camera.By means of this the transducer arrangement 15 operates among others asa view finder.

This described camera structure can be completed in further steps tofurther embodiments, of which the final phase of completion isillustrated in Fig.

In a first further embodiment a window-selecting unit 17 is interposedbetween the transducer arrangement 7 and the transducer arrangement 15.Operating basically as a multiplexer unit, a sub-unit, n'×m' is selectedout of the n×m signals e₉, of which the elements 9 are positionedplanarly interconnected at predeterminable position X_(B1), Y_(B1)relative to the transducer plane of the transducer arrangement.

Therewith, an amount of signals e₉ of the number n'×m' appears at theoutput side of the window selecting unit 17, which correspond to theoutput signals of a planarly interconnected number of sensors 9, ofwhich the entirety is identified in FIG. 2 by E_(9n'm'). Control signalse_(m'), e_(n') are fed to the window selecting unit 17 for a setting ofthe size of the window, as well as e_(xB1) and e_(yB1), latter in orderto set the position of the window in relation to the plane of thetransducer arrangement 7.

Therefore, by means of the control signals which are fed to the windowselection unit 17, the position of the window and the size of the windowis thus defined.

Although in case of a not too small size of the window the total signalE_(9m'm') may be fed directly to the transducer unit 15, an allocatingunit 15 is interposed in accordance with a further preferred embodimentbetween the output of the selecting unit 17 and the input of thetransducer arrangement 19. This unit has an actual zoom function.

An enlarging relation is inputted at a control input e_(v), and the unit19 allocates, operating again in form of a multiplexer unit, the inputsignals corresponding to e₉, to respective transducer elements at thetransducer arrangement 15. By means of this the selected window can beenlarged or broadened, resp. and reduced by m'×n' signals to aarbitrarily selectable size at the transducer plane of the transducerarrangement. For instance, in case of enlarging, a plurality of thetransducer elements at the transducer arrangement 15 are activated inthe same way depending on the factor V of the enlargement by one of thesingle signals e₉ from E_(9n'm'). By means of this an electronic zoomfunction is realized without having to adjust anything at the lens.

In FIG. 3 further variants of additional additions of the stillphotographic camera according to the invention and explained based onFIG. 2 are illustrated. The entirety of the signals e₉, i.e. accordingto FIG. 2 E_(9n'm'), which define the window of the size n'×m'., iselectronically checked at a computer unit 21 integrated in the casing 1,at a focus judging unit 23, for instance based on signal gradients, todetermine if the focus of the electronic image is sufficient. Should thefocus not meet presettable criterions, the focus-judging unit 23 willact at its output side via control signals e_(a), l_(b), l_(c) onto thesetting members 13a, 13b, 13c, wherewith in the sense of a controlcircuit the position of the lens 3 and accordingly the lens plane E_(o)are adjusted until the RATED-focus has been found.

Prior to this, the image plane E_(B) is set by means of the settingmembers 13d, 13e, 13f.

A preferred kind of the functioning of the focus judging- and settingunit 23 according to FIG. 3 shall be explained based on the FIGS. 6 to8.

In FIG. 6a the corresponding, numbered transducer elements 9 are writtenover a location coordinate xB at the transducer element 7. The I-axisidentifies the instant intensity or amplitude of the output signals e₉or, in case of window operation, of the corresponding signals E_(9n'm')according to FIG. 2. The course of the intensity I (X_(B)) at thetransducer elements is illustrated in a purely qualitative manner.

As value of the prevailing focus the gradient dI/dx of the intensity isdetermined in a first relative position POS₁ between lens 3 andtransducer arrangement 7. Obviously, it is thereby not solely thisgradient which is determined at a one-dimensional succession oftransducer elements 9, but rather, two-dimensionally, at a plurality ofgradients around areas of transducer elements 9 belonging together andbeing controlled with a substantially same intensity.

With a view to FIG. 7, the determining of the gradients proceeds at acomputer unit 70, preferably at a camera computer which is also foreseenfor other duties.

In order to determine the focus and to automatically or manually triggerthe optimizing of the focus, the relative position of lens 3 andtransducer arrangement 7 is set, at a preferred embodiment triggered,e.g., by the computer unit 13 and via corresponding of the positioningmembers in the direction of focusing Δ_(OB) (z), corresponding toPOS_(E). The gradients determined at POS_(E) are saved at a memory unit42. Thereafter, e.g., triggered by the computer unit 40 and viamentioned positioning members, the relative position of Δ_(OB) isadjusted, corresponding to POS_(E) of FIG. 6 and 7.

Because a change of the focusing, i.e. of Δ_(OB) (Z), also results in ashifting Δx of the optically incoming image at the transducerarrangement, it is necessary to take this displacement Δx for thesubsequent judging of the change of the intensity gradients, which areregistered in POS₁, and saved in the memory unit 42.

Such as is illustrated in FIG. 6b, a shifting Δx of the gradient to befollowed to other areas of the transducer element occurs due to thetransition from POS₁ in POS₂, in addition to the change of the value ofthe gradient.

The change Dx of the allocation between optically incoming imageelements and transducer elements 9 at a given change of the focus,corresponding to Δ_(OB) is known, such that the computer unit 40registers the now prevailing intensity gradients and stores them in amemory unit 44 where they thus now are present whereby the measure Δx ofthe shifting according to FIG. 6b is taken into consideration.

An automatic following of the gradients registered in POS₁ in relationto the measure of the shifting around Δx is also possible.

From the gradient values which are now stored in the memory units 42 and44 for the at least two settings of the focus, as supporting values, theRATED-position or RATED-focus setting, resp. is concluded such asillustrated in FIG. 6 by interpolation or, as specifically illustrated,by extrapolation.

In accordance with FIG. 7 the gradient supporting values from the memoryunits 42 and 44 are fed in addition to the supportingvalue-position-difference Δ_(OB) to a computer unit 46, again preferablyat the camera computer, which computes based on the focusingposition/focus relation s computed by the two supporting values thefocusing-RATED-setting corresponding to Δ_(OB) RATED and controls samevia the positioning members 13.

By means of this it is now possible that a ACTUAL-focus value isautomatically and speedily corrected to the RATED-value, either as finalsetting prior to saving the image or as new ACTUAL-setting with arelatively small control deviation, RATED-focus minus ACTUAL-focus, inorder to find from the found RATED-position, again by the describedprocedure, still more precisely the demanded RATED-focus position.

Because for a computing of the RATED-focusing in this procedure only atleast two focusing supporting values must be set and computed, a judgingand an optimizing of the focus can proceed very fast due to the highspeed of calculating of the computer of the camera, which is of nodetrimental significance. This is specifically advantageous when thesetting image, from which the signal gradients for the judging of thefocus are generated are actuated at a relatively small cadence, forinstance due to a limited speed of the transducing of the transducerelements, which indeed is faster than the adjusting needed for amechanical adjusting of the focus, but may be yet not sufficient withoutfurther ado for a continuous adjusting of the focus (scanning) forfinding the RATED-focus.

When viewing FIG. 6 it can be seen quite easily that it is absolutelypossible to proceed with the setting of the focus without an interveningat the optomechanical portion of the camera, but rather to carry out aneeded correction purely in a signal technical way at the electricaloutput signals of the transducer arrangement 7, in that aACTUAL-gradient which has been determined is electronically transformedfor instance in accordance with FIG. 6a by a transforming of signals tothe prerequisite gradient.

This procedure is illustrated schematically based on function blocks,analogue to FIG. 7, in FIG. 8.

The output signals E₉ of the transducer arrangement 7 or of a transducerarrangement window resp., are saved at a memory unit 48 and fed to thecomputer unit 40' forming gradients analogue to the computer unit 40 ofFIG. 7. At the output side of the computer unit 40' the momentarilypresent gradient conditions are stored at a memory unit 50 and comparedat a comparing unit 54 with the RATED-gradient conditions stored at amemory unit 52. The resulting gradient deviations ΔG at the output ofthe comparing unit 54 control a signal form unit 56 on which,controlled, the changes of the gradients illustrated based on FIG. 6aand 6b are performed by a forming of signals.

Hereto the signals stored momentarily in the memory unit 48 are loopedover the signal forming unit 40'. The newly formed signal transmissionsdetermined by means of the computer unit 40' are continuously comparedwith the RATED-conditions in the memory unit 42 until the differences ΔGappearing at the output of the comparing unit 54 reach preset minimalvalues.

Reverting back to FIG. 3, the signal E_(9n'm') or also the total signalE_(9nm) is, additionally to the unit 23 or also alternatively, fed to aillumination judging unit 25 at the camera computer 21. In this unit,for instance based on the averaged intensity, all E_(9n'm) ' formingsignals E₉ are examined to the effect whether the illumination intensityof the electronic image window meets presettable criteria. Outputconnectors are foreseen at the output side of the illumination judgingunit 25 in order to allow a controlling of at least one illuminationdevice 27 which can be controlled via these output connectors. Such maybe, thereby, a continuous light source or a mixed light source for acontinuous light or a flash-light. In this connection reference is madeto the DE-A-31 52 272. By means of this the illumination at theillumination judging unit is also here set in a controlling sense thatthe criteria set at the illumination judging unit 25 are met.

Additionally, or again alternatively to the units 23 and 25, resp., acolor judging unit 28 is foreseen in the camera computer. In order toobtain, in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment, the colorinformation, narrow transmission strips, for instance in form ofthinlayer filters are arranged for instance in front of sensor elements9 distributed uniformly over the transducer surface of the transducer 7,and the output signals of these k×l foreseen in the window of the sizem'×n' color selective sensor element output signals are judged at theunit 28 in the camera computer 21. If necessary, the unit 28 can act atthe output side onto filters to be switched in front of the illuminationdevice 27 in order to selectively, depending from the criteria of thejudgment at the unit 27, control the color composition of theillumination light again in a regulating manner.

The set filters can also be foreseen at the camera in front of and/orbehind the lens.

It has been described with reference to FIG. 3 how the electronic imageinformation relative to a set window of the size m'×n' can be furtherprocessed further at preferred embodiments of the still photographiccamera in accordance with the invention.

In order now to set these mentioned criteria, that is focus,illumination an composition of color not only for one respectiveselected window, but optimally for larger picture portions or for theentire picture, the output of each of the foreseen units 23, 25, 27 isillustrated in FIG. 4 merely based on the example of the focus judgingunit 23, loaded via a multiplexer unit 29 which can be controlled by thewindow selection by a control signal S_(F) into a window value memory.Thus, at every window value memory 31 the results of the judgment of thefocus and the results of the judgment of the illumination and theresults of the judgment of the light colors, resp., are windowspecifically saved. A predeterminable number of the windows distributedover the transducer surface of the transducer arrangement 7 and selectedat the unit 17 are sequentially fed to the entirety of the foreseenwindow value memory 31.

For the optimal setting of the picture over the entire transducersurface of the transducer arrangement 7, the values of a plurality ofwindows are judged at an optimizing and average setting, resp., unit 33at the camera computer and now and not earlier the correspondingpositioning signals e etc. are emitted.

Based on the procedure for the setting of a demanded focus or focusdistribution over the image, it already has been explained how at leastone ACTUAL-value, there namely the ACTUAL-focus is obtained from theoutput signals of the transducer arrangement and how by interventioninto the optomechanical path of the camera-intervention into themechanical positioners--and/or into the electrical path forming ofsignals-the image for obtaining at least one RATED image value, namelythe RATED-focus or RATED-image distribution is changed.

From the literature, for instance from the pocket book "Bauelemente derOptik", H. Naumann, G. Schroder, Hanser publishing house, 4 Th. edition,1983, chapter 12, Optical information-transmittal and image quality, theterm modulation-transmittal function or modulation-transfer function MTFis known, which is specifically objective specific.

Such a typical MTF-family is illustrated in FIG. 9. Themodulation-transferfunction is e.g. defined by

    M=(E.sub.max -E.sub.min)/((E.sub.max +E.sub.min)

with E as "intensity of illumination" and is found from the modulationbetween the maximal intensity E_(max) and the minimal intensity E_(min)found based on test grids, such as is common for grades of modulations.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, the modulation transfer function MTF, whichcan range between 0% and 100%, depends from the set aperture value andalso from the viewed image angle and depends further from the localfrequency f_(x) at the mentioned test grids defined by the valueline-pair/mm (Lp/mm).

In FIG. 9 the MTF is illustrated in a purely qualitative manner infunction of the aperture value for image angles 0°, in broken lines alsofor a local frequency of abt. 4f_(x), for f_(x) being the localfrequency for the curve family illustrated by full lines.

At the one side it is in many cases desired to shape the modulationtransmission, for instance regarding its dependency from the aperturevalue and/or its dependency from the image angle, differently thanpre-set by a given, objective being used, and/or it could be desired incase of a changing of the lens to keep the same modulation-transmittingconditions as had for the previous lens.

The effects of a modulation-transmitting function given by the objectiveused can be, such as illustrated for instance in FIG. 10 based on afunction block/signal flow diagram, arbitrarily changed in accordancewith the invention.

If, according to FIG. 10, the camera is to recognize on its own arespective mounted lens 60 in order to take the corresponding MTF intoconsideration, a lens-recognizing device 62 is foreseen such asillustrated schematically, which reads for instance a code marking atthe lens. In a MTF-memory 64 MTF's which are specific of the lens areregistered in function according to FIG. 9 for instance of image angle,B-angle, aperture size, BW, and local frequency fx. The family of curveswhich corresponds to the momentarily used lens is retrieved and fed to acomputer unit 66, the camera computer. For instance by functionselection switches it is for instance manually prompted in which way theMTF given by the lens 60 shall be changed, for instance in such a mannerthat in case of a image angle B-angle of 43° a MTF dependency from theaperture value BW is arrived at, such as given by the lens 60 at a imageangle of 0° (see FIG. 9).

The computer unit 66 changes basically in accordance with the input theeffect of the lens specific MTF in that in the mentioned example the MTFgiven by the lens is corrected upwards at 43° image angle. For this taskalso the aperture value BW and respective image value B-angle which isunder consideration are fed to the computer unit 66.

Such as mentioned above, the MTF depends on the local frequency. Thislocal frequency can, however, such as illustrated in FIG. 10, decreased"electrically" in that by means of a selectively controllable logicswitching element 70 the output signals of a plurality of transducerelements which are adjacent of each other, possibly with a forming of anaverage value (not illustrated) are combined to resulting output signalsE_(9r). By a decreasing of the local frequency f_(x) the MTF isincreased such as can be seen easily in FIG. 9. In case of a changing ofthe aperture value BW the computer unit 66 calculates at the exampleunder consideration in which amount the respective local frequency f_(x)must be decreased in order to obtain the same dependency from theaperture value at a image angle of 43° which, in fact, would be given bythe objective at a image angle of 0°.

According to FIG. 9, therefore, at an aperture value of for instance 5,6the MTF is changed by the decrease of the local frequency from point a₄₃into the point b₄₃, at an aperture value of for instance 22 from pointa₂₂ into the point b₂₂.

It is also possible without any further ado to create otherdependencies, such as for instance to set, that the image angledependency is compensated at a given aperture value. In such case, suchas follows by FIG. 9, a large reduction of the local frequency is madefor instance at an aperture value 11, at transducer elements with aimage angle of 105°, at increasingly smaller image angle correspondinglysmaller reductions of the local frequency, such that at all imageangles, for instance in accordance with point c, a almost 100% MTFresults.

In an analogue manner, for instance at the determining of the pointcoordinates of a cloud of points, in accordance with the DE-PS-34 33412, the independent variables "aperture value" and "local frequency",could be set or varied, resp. for the respective image point coordinatesto be focused in such a manner that a respective maximal modulation(100%) occurs. Furthermore, obviously the leaving of predeterminedareas, for instance in relation to MTF, could first be announced by analarm indication before the MTF-influence compensation is triggeredmanually. With a view on FIG. 9 it is for instance possible to announceat a monitored image angle of for instance 96°, if at a changing of theaperture value the MTF drops below a predetermined MTF, for instancebelow 60%.

Reverting back, in FIG. 5 a presently preferred structural embodiment ofthe camera in accordance with the invention is illustrated perspectivelyand schematically. The lens 3 is supported in the casing 1 in accordancewith FIG. 1. At the reverse side the transducer arrangement 15 isforeseen with a surface section on which the displays for theinteractive communication between user and camera computer 21 takeplace. Furthermore, an optimal small number of operating buttons foroperating the camera is foreseen, such, as illustrated in FIG. 5,preferably a mouse roller 37, for instance for adjusting and setting ofwindows, and also a modus selecting disc or modus selecting buttons bymeans of which the effect modus of the mouse roller 37 con be changed.

A image storing medium, such as a mini-disc, can be, furthermore,integrated at the camera in accordance with the invention, and/or outputconnectors may be foreseen in order to couple thereto an externalstorage medium.

For the practical use, reverting back to FIG. 1, following combinationsare preferred with the following priority:

1. Image plane and lens plane or transducer arrangement, resp., and lens3 are pivotably supported in relation to the casing 1 of the camera andsupported for a moving at least in the focusing direction z. Therewith,the viewer plane, formed by the transducer arrangement 15 according toFIG. 2 is fixed to the housing.

2. The lens plane or the lens, resp. is pivotably supported in relationto the casing 1 of the camera and supported for a moving at least in thefocusing direction z. The viewer plane, determined by the transducerarrangement 15 according to FIG. 2, and also the image plane, determined by the transducer arrangement 7 are fixed to the camera. Possiblythe image plane with the transducer arrangement are supported thereby tobe moveable in the focusing direction z. In this case the casing of thecamera is pivoted and/or linearly shifted for the selection of theperspective of the image and/or the picture cut-out.

With the gravity sensor 40 illustrated in FIG. 1 the possibility isproduced to recognize via the camera computer 21 automatically theposition of the camera in relation to the vertical direction. Thisinformation ca be evaluated in the computer of the camera e.g. asfollows:

set edges of image parallel the vertical direction;

recognize if camera either in landscape or portrait format.

Recognize cut-outs which are obliquely relative to the verticaldirection and recalculate them relative to the fixed pivoting geometryfor the camera setting to a position which is aligned with the verticaldirection;

influence vertical building lines by computer function variants withcomplete equalizing (picture plane vertical) and partial equalizing(either in function of the angle of tilt of the image taking axes or bya stepwise selection of the equalization to the vertical line);

influence horizontal building lines by pivoting of the image plane andaccordingly the transducer arrangement 7 around the vertical line orstepwise changing of the horizontal course of the building lines.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic still camera comprising:a casing; alens mounted on said casing, said lens defining a lens plane relative tosaid casing; at least a substantially planar two-dimensionalopto-electric (O/E) transducer arrangement of opto-electric sensorelements mounted on said casing for receiving an image from said lens,said opto-electric transducer arrangement defining a focal plane andemitting output signals based on said received image; an image viewerscreen in the form of an electro-optical (E/O) transducer to which atleast a part of the output signals of said opto-electric sensor elementsare communicated to provide an image thereon for viewing; means foradjustably mounting said image viewer screen on said casing; and afocus-judging unit, wherein outputs of said O/E-elements areoperationally connected to said focus-judging unit, said focus-judgingunit sequentially controlling mutual positioning of said lens and saidO/E-transducer arrangement for two different mutual positions, andwherein said focus-judging device determines, in said two positions,gradients between output signals of adjacent O/E-elements or adjacentgroups of O/E-elements and determines from said gradients at said twopositions a desired mutual position of said lens and said O/E-transducerarrangement for a rated focus by interpolation or extrapolation, andwherein further said focus-judging unit controls subsequently saidmutual positioning according to said mutual positioning for said ratedfocus.
 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said E/O-transducerarrangement is an LCD-screen or an active planar screen.
 3. The cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein said lens is supported to pivot relativeto said casing around two mutually perpendicular axes.
 4. The cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein said O/E-transducer arrangement issupported to pivot around two mutually perpendicular axes with respectto said casing.
 5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein saidO/E-transducer arrangement is linearly displaceable in direction of atleast one of said two axes.
 6. The camera according to claim 1, whereinat least one of said lens and said O/E-transducer arrangement islinearly displaceable in focal direction of said camera.
 7. The cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of said O/E-transducerarrangements and said lens is movable with respect to said casing andfurther comprising a motor drive arrangement for moving said at leastone of said O/E-transducer arrangement and said lens.
 8. The cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein a window-selecting unit is interconnectedbetween said O/E-transducer arrangement and said E/O-transducerarrangement, said window-selecting unit comprising control inputs, atleast a part of said control inputs controlling which of said outputsignals of said O/E-elements of said O/E-transducer arrangement are fedto said E/O-transducer arrangement.
 9. The camera according to claim 8,wherein at least a part of said control inputs control to whichE/O-elements of said E/O-transducer arrangement output signals of saidO/E-elements of said O/E-transducer arrangement are fed.
 10. The cameraaccording to claim 9, wherein at least a part of said control inputscontrol the number of E/O-elements to which respective single ones ofthe output signals of said O/E-elements are fed.
 11. The cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein outputs of said O/E-elements areoperationally connected to at least one ofsaid focus-judging unit, anillumination-judging unit, and a color-judging unit.
 12. The cameraaccording to claim 11, wherein a window-selecting unit is interconnectedbetween said O/E-transducer arrangement and said at least one unit. 13.The camera according to claim 11, wherein output signals of saidO/E-elements are operationally connected to said focus-judging unit, theoutput thereof acting via a motor drive on a positioning arrangement forsaid lens.
 14. The camera according to claim 11, wherein output signalsof said O/E-elements are operationally connected to anillumination-judging unit generating output signals for controlling atleast one illumination source.
 15. The camera according to claim 11,wherein output signals of said O/E-elements are operationally connectedto inputs of a color-judging device for generating thereat inputsignals, said input signals being significant for the spectralcomposition of light impinging on said O/E elements, said color-judgingunit generating output signals for setting a spectral color compositionof illuminational light for imaging.
 16. The camera according to claim11, wherein outputs of said at least one unit are operationallyconnected to inputs of memory means.
 17. The camera according to claim16, further comprising a window-selecting unit interconnected betweenoutputs of said O/E-elements and said at least one unit, and furthercomprising a selection unit for selectively connecting output signals ofsaid at least one unit to separate areas of said memory means accordingto windows selected by said widow-selecting unit.
 18. The cameraaccording to claim 16, wherein outputs of said memory means areoperationally connected to inputs of an optimizing unit generatingcontrol signals operationally connected to at least one of a motordriven positioning arrangement for at least one of said lens and saidO/E-transducer arrangement, and an illumination source.
 19. The cameraaccording to claim 1, further comprising an erasable data storageoperationally connected to the output of said O/E-elements.
 20. Thecamera according to claim 1, further comprising a camera computeroperationally connected to said E/O-transducer arrangement fordisplaying information from said computer.
 21. The camera according toclaim 1, further comprising at least one gravity sensor.
 22. The cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein output signals of O/E-elements areoperationally connected to an input of a focus-judging unit, saidfocus-judging unit determining a gradient or gradients of output signalsof adjacent O/E-elements or adjacent groups of O/E-elements, and whereinsaid focus-judging unit generates an output signal operationallyconnected to a motor drive for mutually positioning said lens and saidO/E-transducer arrangement so long until said gradient or gradientsdetermined have reached a rated value or a rated value distribution. 23.The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a controllablecombining unit, the input thereof being operationally connected tooutputs of O/E-elements, said controllable combining unit selectivelycombining at least two output signals of adjacent O/E-elements or ofadjacent groups of O/E-elements to a single output signal.
 24. Thecamera according to claim 23, wherein said combining unit averages saidsignals of said at least two adjacent elements or adjacent groups ofelements to form said output signal of said combining unit.
 25. Thecamera according to claim 23, further comprising a camera computeroperationally connected to control inputs of said combining unit. 26.The camera according to claim 1, further comprising at least one ofcontrollable amplifiers and of controllable attenuators operationallyconnected to outputs of said O/E-elements.
 27. The camera according toclaim 26, wherein said at least one of controllable amplifiers and ofcontrollable attenuators are controlled by a camera computer.
 28. Thecamera according to claim 1, further comprising a camera computer and amemory device for storing modulation transmission of at least one lens,the output of said memory device being operationally connected to inputsof said camera computer, said camera computer generating output signalsoperationally connected to amplifier and/or attenuation meansoperationally connected to outputs of said O/E-elements in order tochange the memorized modulation transmission of a lens with respect toits effect on the output signal of said O/E elements.
 29. An electronicstill camera comprising:a casing; a lens mounted on said casing, saidlens defining a lens plane relative to said casing; at least asubstantially planar two-dimensional opto-electric (O/E) transducerarrangement of opto-electric sensor elements mounted on said casing forreceiving an image from said lens, said opto-electric transducerarrangement defining a focal plane and emitting output signals based onsaid received image; an image viewer screen in the form of anelectro-optical (E/O) transducer to which at least a part of the outputsignals of said opto-electric sensor elements are communicated toprovide an image thereon for viewing; means for adjustably mounting saidimage viewer screen on said casing; and a focus-judging unit, whereinoutput signals of said O/E-elements are operationally connected to aninput of said focus-judging unit, said focus-judging unit determining agradient or gradients of output signals of adjacent O/E-elements oradjacent groups of O/E-elements, and wherein said focus-judging unitgenerates an output signal operationally connected to a motor drive formutually positioning said lens and said O/E-transducer arrangement untilsaid gradient or gradients determined have reached a rated value or arated value distribution.
 30. The camera according to claim 29, whereinsaid E/O-transducer arrangement is an LCD-screen or an active planarscreen.